Party time! If you’ve got a bridal shower coming up, you know you’ve got an awesome day ahead of you with your girlfriends. Bridal showers are really fun, and can range from family friendly to crazy girl’s night out material. Either way your bridal shower ends up going, one awesome way to bond and laugh with your friends is to play some fun bridal shower games. We’ve got five games that will match any crowd and create some fantastic memories! Party on, pretty ladies!

Bridal Pictionary

Get a few white boards or sketchpads and throw some fun wedding-related phrases or words in a bowl. You can split the room up so that people can mingle and play with people they may not normally interact with. Throw words in like “toast”, “honeymoon”, and “groom” but also throw in some specific words to the bride. If she’s a teacher, throw in the word “classroom” or “teacher’s pet”. Keep it light and cute but also centered around the guest of honor.

The Newlywed Game

A total classic and perfect game for bridal showers. Have some questions ready to go and split the group up again. Grab those handy dandy white boards and have the teams guess on the answers to the questions you have- and make sure they always have to do with the bride. Have questions like where they met, where their first kiss was, how many days they’ve been together, etc. You can throw in a few silly ones too, like would they rather go skiing or spelunking, things like that. Keep it light, keep it fun, and keep it moving fast enough that it doesn’t drag out.

Count the Kisses

This one is a super easy game that everyone will be able to play, even if you’re shy. Have a vase or bowl of kisses out with a lid so no one eats any. Have everyone guess how many kisses are in the bowl, and whoever guesses closest wins the vase and the kisses! If you want to do hugs and kisses, you can label the vase ‘XOXO’ to make it super cute. It’s an easy game plus someone leaves with a whole lot of chocolate!

Make Memories

Have all the guests write down a cute story about themselves and the bride without using their name. Once everyone has been able to write down their stories, have the maid of honor or some of the bridal party read the stories out loud. The bride has to guess who wrote what story, and everyone gets an awesome walk down memory lane! You can’t have the bride read the questions off though- the handwriting could be a giveaway!

Mouth-watering Mystery

Whatever your bride’s favorite snack is- get a ton of different brands. If she’s a chocolate fiend, pick up some hersheys, godiva, sees, all sorts of fun stuff. If she loves gummy bears, grab some trolli, black forest, haribo, anything you can find. Unwrap everything and pour them into different bowls. After dinner or anything savory, everyone gets to go pick a piece from each bowl and guess what brand each piece of candy is. Whoever is closest gets a pack of their choice! This is a fun game that gives everyone an excuse to munch on something sweet.

Are you a Jill of all trades? If you’ve got the honor of being a maid of honor, you better be! Being the maid of honor is a seriously huge deal and it can be a lot to live up to. If you have the time to prepare, it can be a good idea to pick up a few new hobbies that could seriously come in handy. If you want to be the best maid of honor ever, get started on learning these life skills!

Sew Skilled

If there’s one life skill you’ll need as a lady in life, let alone as a maid of honor, it’s to be able to sew. You don’t need to learn to do anything crazy, but if you can string a thread through a needle and efficiently sew something up you’re good. From here on out, keep some clear thread and a needle on hand in a small container for anything that may come up. If the bride finds a small tear, you’re the go-to girl to save the day (which will result in some serious love!). If you’re nervous about sewing on the spot, try out some small projects at home- that button’s not going to sew itself back on and practice makes perfect!

Lash Out

This life skill can be a little intimidating, but if you CAN’T do it you can get in some serious trouble. Many brides wear falsies for their big day, as do bridesmaids, family, basically everyone. False lashes are so fun, but if they start peaking out or if the glue becomes unstuck it’s such a nightmare. If you can master putting on lashes and fixing any lashes that start to fly off, you’ll be such a hero! One of our favorite tips is to dab glue on a flat surface and use the pointed end of a pen to re-apply glue. You can also get lash glue with a built in wand for easy re-applying. All you’ll have to do is start wearing lashes more and then you’ll be ready to fix any lash drama that may arise in the bridal party.

Re-Powder to Re-Power!

This is a super easy life skill, but if you go too heavy it can ruin a look. Learn to re-powder your face like a pro and you’ll be able to get everyone camera ready in no time flat! The trick is to keep it light, use the right brushes for your powder, and know the skin type that you’re working with. An easy way to re-powder yourself or your friends is to lightly dust an HD powder over the T-Zone. We like duo fibre brushes and retractable kabuki brushes for on-the-go applications.

Heel the Heels

It’s the big day, you’re all running around, and then it happens- someone’s high heel breaks. UGH! That’s such a nightmare and if it’s fixed improperly, it can ruin the shoes and the night. It’s a bummer, but be sure that you fix the heel with serious super glue (not to be mistaken for the lash glue you’ll also have on your person) and let it sit until it doesn’t wiggle at all. If you’re able, give it about ten to fifteen minutes to fully dry with super glue and try to keep your full weight off of the shoe until it’s been dry for about an hour. The big mistake people tend to make is that they try to wiggle the heel to see if it’s fixed- that sets back the entire process and makes the shoe unstable. Learn how to properly fix a heel for life and you’ll save your girls from a fashion emergency!

Short End of the Stick

This life skill will save you ways that extend past weddings, girls’ nights, and girly things in general- it’s just a great life skill. Do yourself a favor and learn to drive a stick! You never know when you’ll need to pick up the keys and do a last minute run for the bride. If it happens, you don’t want to get stuck screaming at the clutch and contemplating ubering the groomsmens’ vests over from across town. Learning to drive a stick is such a useful life skill and isn’t too complicated once you get it. It’s just like riding a bike, except you have a little more freedom to dance while blasting Beyonce while you do it.

It’s starting to get a little cooler out here and the seasons are finally changing! If you’ve got a bachelorette party coming up this Fall and you’re stuck in pool party mode, we’ve got some ideas for you. Embrace this season with our top five Fall bachelorette party ideas!

Bachelorette Bake Off

If you’re not big on going out, why not stay in and make some pies? Make some mini pies and get as house-wifey as you can. You can have everyone bring over cute aprons and play old music to make it fun. Turn it into a bake off between the bridesmaids and have a small prize for the winner. If you have extra pies left over, pass them off to the groomsmen as a surprise!

Park Day

Now that school’s back in, it’s a great time to hit up a theme park! Disneyland is a personal favorite here at Bridal Hot List, but most theme parks are much less crowded in the fall. Plan for a work/school ditch day with the bridesmaids and ride some rides. Try to go on a weekday to avoid any crowds. Since its also a non-peak season, some parks have lower pricing (like Magic Mountain/Six Flags). It’s a really fun way to bond and create new memories with your favorite ladies and get a chance to play in a theme park when it’s not packed. There are also apps and websites for most major theme parks that will let you know what days won’t be crowded.

Try a Tasting

Is it too cold to go from place to place for your bachelorette party? Look for local wine shops or breweries that do tastings. You’ll get the experience of trying out different flavors and new things without having to trudge through any Fall weather. If you’re not a big drinker, sometimes chocolate shops also hold tastings. Tastings can also be a great way to get package deals on a variety of goods, so it would also be a great way to save a little money.

Stay In

Not feeling like going out? Don’t feel pressured to! Grab your girlfriends, your matching PJs, and have a good old fashioned pajama party. Your bachelorette party doesn’t need to be crazy- if that’s not your style don’t do it! There’s nothing wrong with popping a few bottles of wine and watching as much Orange is the New Black as your heart desires. You can make it super old school and play board games and eat lots of candy. No shame in staying in, ladies!

Go Off Season

If you want to do something a little more daring, get out of your town and check out an off-season resort or spa! Pricing in Las Vegas, Palm Springs, and most beach towns are a little lower now that summer’s over. If you can swing getting a Friday off, try to head out on a Thursday night and make a long weekend of it. Of course, it’ll be cheaper to do mid-week if you can schedule that with all your bridesmaids! Your short vacation may not be as sunny as you may imagine, but if you pick a place that isn’t hit too hard by Fall weather it’ll actually be quite nice.

Planning a wedding isn’t easy- there’s a reason there’s an entire profession dedicated to expertly handling the event. There can be a ton of stress that goes along with making one big event go perfectly and smoothly. It’s important to be able to take a moment to relax and de-stress so you don’t get overwhelmed or anxious before the big day. We have a few must-have items that you’ll need to get through the hectic planning phase. Just keep this kit stashed somewhere nearby and you’ll feel zen in no time. Bonus points if you’re a bridesmaid and can put this together for the bride!

On the Go Lotion

Keep a small stash of lotion on hand in case you feel dry, or if your head starts to hurt. If you feel a headache coming on, simply take a tiny bit of lotion and rub your palms. Focus on the part of your palm just under your thumb and it can ease the pain. Simple massaging and rubbing can fend off the worst of migraines and headaches without popping any pills. Plus, your hands will get super soft!

Instant Smiles

When you’re getting frustrated or flustered, the best thing you can do is mentally retreat to good times. Thinking about a fun party or people you love can help you refocus and get into a good mood (even if it feels challenging in the moment!). Keep cute pictures that make you smile stashed in your purse or set as the wallpaper of your phone. Having constant reminders of the love and the light in your life will keep you feeling good, even if you’re under stress.

Snack Attack

This may sound maternal- but always pack a snack! Sometimes skipping meals or not eating enough can make people cranky or irritable. You want to go into all your wedding decisions and meetings feeling good and balanced- so attack it with a snack! It doesn’t have to be anything big, but your snacks should work for you. If you’re super active and need more energy early in the day, you may need something a little heavier. If you get sleepy or just need something to chew, maybe little pieces of candy just to wake you up. Keep a stash in your car just in case you need something on the go between meals. Just try not to snack too much before the cake tasting!

Stay Shady

Good sunglasses are a Southern California staple and should never be forgotten! You may need to remember to stash them in your purse before you start running around doing wedding errands for more reasons than just to look cute. Keeping the sun out of your eyes keeps your eyes from straining, preventing symptoms like headaches and eye strains. Keeping UV lights from getting to your sensitive eye skin can prevent your eye skin from aging as quickly. The less damage your eyes receive, the less damaged your eyes look! Make sure your pair of shades is not only adorable, but offer some UV protection. You’ll thank us when you look refreshed and young in your wedding photos!

The Es-scent-ial Candle

Have you ever smelled something and immediately felt happy? Your sense of scent is actually very strong and is known to cultivate memories. Go splurge on a great candle for yourself that reminds you of being happy. If you don’t have any scents that you can think of, look for a stress-relief candle (yes, it’s a thing!). Light it when you get home as you’re relaxing or working on wedding planning. The scent will help you stay level headed and ready to focus.

Is your bridal party scattered across the state? Across the nation? Never fear, Bridal Hot List is here! It’s very common to have bridesmaids who aren’t in town. Maybe they’re your besties from back home or your college roommates who left for a new city. Whatever the case, it happens and you know it doesn’t lessen the friendship! The distance may pose some challenges, but we’re here to help. Consider us your bonus bridesmaid!

Schedule Touch Bases

Sure it may feel a little formal, but it’s necessary for keeping everyone up to date! Set up Skype or facetime dates with anyone you can’t grab coffee with at the same time every week leading up to the wedding. It’s good if you have some sort of agenda to go over- dresses, shoes, bachelorette party details, whatever it is you should have some idea of what you need to discuss. Let her know that the talks will be totally wedding-based so she has some idea of what’s going to happen. It helps you both be prepared and keeps you from digressing.

Use the Buddy System

If you have more than one long distance bridesmaid in the same city, say you have a few bridesmaids from your hometown but you live farther away, have them buddy up. Have them keep each other accountable to any tasks they’re responsible and to be there for each other. If your bridesmaids are more spread out, ask for help from your maid of honor. She may have more time to track down long distance bridesmaids and can help out with scheduling or wedding questions. Plus, you’ll get the chance to have your bridesmaids bond (which we love!).

Be Accessible

If you can, be able to facetime or Skype in when your bridesmaid goes bridesmaid dress shopping. If she has any questions, be there to help her. It can be hard to get ready for a friend’s wedding from afar (particularly if there’s a time difference between you two!), so do what you can to be there for her. If you have an email address set up for your wedding, have it go to your phone so you can field any questions remotely.

Help Plan When You Can

Be flexible, but know that you’ll probably need your bridal party at least a few days before the wedding, if not a whole week. If your long distance bridesmaid can’t afford that many days off work, schedule the big events to have her there. Be involved in her travel plans so you know what to expect when she’s around. The more connected you two can be in planning, the more smoothly your plans will go!

Be Thankful

It’s hard being a part of an event from afar- this girl’s got to have put in some work to be a part of it all! When you’re thinking about your bridal party gifts, think about something for her. Maybe a nice webcam so you two can skype or an airline voucher so you can see each other soon. Be thoughtful, she has had to be very thoughtful on her end as well. Being a part of a wedding is stressful as is, but adding travel on top of it makes it a bigger deal. Let her know that you appreciate her. Remember, manners and a ‘thank you’ go a long way.

If it’s your big day, you shouldn’t have to stress over anything at all. Unfortunately, one big stress some brides have is drama within the bridal party. We don’t want you to have to go through any unnecessary drama though! We’ve got tips on keeping the peace between your girls so you can have a peaceful wedding.

Bond When You Can

If there’s any awkward tension in the group, do what you can to diffuse it with some good old fashioned quality time. Do a Sunday bridal party brunch with manis and pedis, or wake up early to take a hike together. Group activities can create new, fun memories that diffuse awkward vibes. The more time your bridal party spends together, the more time they have to forge new friendships!

Create Conversations

As much as we’d all love to be social butterflies and float effortlessly through conversation, it’s a difficult skill to master! Give your girls a hand by creating conversations for everyone to participate in. If you have everyone over and spend the whole night talking office gossip, your college friends and hometown BFF’s may not feel included. An easy way to create conversation is to go see a movie, then go out for drinks and dessert afterward. Everyone will be able to participate and stay on the same page.

One on One

If you’re noticing any tension between any of your bridesmaids, pull them aside. If you see something, say something. Talk to each person one on one to try and see where any issues may lie. It may be a little much to go straight into a sit down confrontation, so create a safe environment where no one feels judged. Explain your needs and that you don’t want any tension on your special day, and emphasize that you want everyone to have a great time.

Call Rank

If you’re still seeing anyone butting heads after having a sit down, step up and remind them who’s getting married. It is your day, and you deserve everything you want. Tell everyone straight up that you don’t want any drama and to put their egos aside for the sake of the party. There’s nothing wrong with asking this of your friends- if they really are your friends, they’ll listen.

Ask your Maid of Honor

Still getting nowhere? Don’t have time to actually take care of any egos that may not be meshing well? Get your maid of honor on it. She’s your right-hand lady for a reason, afterall! Be gentle when you’re handling other people’s feelings, but be firm. This will affect your special day, so you should have final say. Trust her to de-tense any weird feelings and keep the peace between the bridesmaids.

Follow our five tips, and pretty soon your whole bridal party will be fast friends!

Whether you’re a meticulous maid of honor or a hands on bride, you’ll need some serious organization skills to pull off a destination bachelorette party. If you want to take a Spring break with your girlfriends in honor of the wedding, check out our tips for having the most awesome bachelorette party ever!

Start a Chain

Stick to one form of communication with everyone that’s going to keep everyone updated all at once- email. This way you can send links and skip over messages that you don’t need or aren’t relevant anymore. Keep everyone on the chain by hitting ‘reply all’ every time. Just be sure to not reply with ‘lol’ at everything. Keep it strictly to travel related information and save all the side conversations for chat or text.

Do Research

Narrow down any destination options if you haven’t already. Use the email chain to settle anything you’re unsure of with a vote. Be sure to do research on all destinations and activities that you could do and present that to the group with links or reviews. An informed traveler is a happy traveler!

Divide and Conquer

When you have a game plan, divvy up the work so you can all enjoy the festivities. If you have a friend who has a knack for finding great restaurants, have them in charge of finding nearby restaurants or bars. If you have someone who knows hotel professionals, have them in charge of the hotel (you may even be able to score a discount!). Use your awesome team to your advantage to have a smooth and safe trip.

Set Deadlines

Have a timeline and make sure everyone sticks to it! To keep costs down for everyone, get any plane tickets booked at least two weeks in advance of departure. Have everyone get their days covered at work if they need it a few weeks before departure. Keep everyone accountable so there’s no drama later on.

Pack Light

Stick to the essentials and pieces that are versatile. Plan ahead- if you’re spending most of your time at the beach, you may not even need any jeans or sweaters at all. If you’re going out, skip the bikinis for cocktail dresses. Really try to plan your packing ahead so you don’t overpack. If you’re close enough with your bridesmaids, plan out who’s going to bring flat irons, curling irons, or blow dryers. If you can keep it to a purse and a carry on, you’ve done it right.

Some people cringe at the thought of public speaking. The thought of standing in front of a bunch of people and making a presentation is scary for a lot of people. If you happen to be a best man at a wedding, or even the maid of honor, or the father of the bride, chances are you will be asked to pick up the microphone and give a toast in front of the entire audience. Many people overcome this fear by drinking – which is a huge mistake! Do you really want your words of love coming from someone that’s maybe had a few too many? Of course not. This is why it is very important to practice public speaking. In this article, we’ll give you some basic tips to improve your delivery and give a great toast.

Make sure you wear a supportive pair of shoes when picking out your tuxedo. For the ladies, this might be a lot harder, since the shoes will always have to match the dress and don’t have the luxury of having a choice between style and comfort like the guys do. You want your posture to be tall and confident, with open and relaxed shoulders so you portray confidence. If you get tense feet, knee or low back pain, it will affect your speech greatly. Make sure your posture is good and that you do not lock your knees.

The way you look can determine how well you do at public speaking. If you are not well-groomed or dressed at your best, you are not going to feel very confident with yourself. This lack of confidence may cause you more fear and could mess up your whole speech. So, be sure to look your best! If you need to, run to the bathroom to make sure your hair is in place or your makeup is touched up so you know you are looking your best. In terms of the length of the speech, try not to have it go longer than five minutes. This is the average attention span of most individuals, so speaking for longer than this is going to risk boring them. If you have to speak for longer than this, find some way to change gears in the middle to liven things up.

Practice your speech frequently once you have it memorized. Work on issues where you lose your flow. Learn to breath with ease and pace your delivery. Make sure that your speech time allows some open space for interruptions, which are hopefully rounds of applause. When you can, practice using your speech equipment. Just do not practice so much that the whole thing sounds fake and rehearsed. The best speech givers understand that importance of sounding like they are winging it, which ironically comes with a ton of practice. Always be yourself when you are giving a speech and you will have better luck with the audience. Sincerity is a quality that many people respect and admire. If it is clear to the audience that you are not putting on a show when you are speaking to them, they will receive your message better.

Avoid fidgeting when speaking in front of an audience. Playing with your hair, chewing on your nails and other similar behaviors serve to distract the audience from listening to what you have to say. Instead of remembering your message, they may remember that you continually smoothed your hair. If you find it difficult to stop fidgeting, clasp your hands together in front of you or behind you, or place them on the lectern. If you will be speaking for longer than five minutes, be sure to have a glass of water handy since your mouth could go dry.

Public speaking may seem difficult at first, but the more you practice or at least go in prepared, the easier it will become. You just need the right tools and some self-confidence. Remember, all people want to hear is your heartfelt words for the new couple. If you share those openly and eloquently, you can make those words last a lifetime.

A good maid of honor is a prepared maid of honor, no matter how cold it is. If you’re in for a winter wedding, it’s best to keep some cold-weather supplies on hand for the blushing bride. Here at Bridal Hot List, we don’t let anything stop us from looking fabulous, not even a little chill. Pack your clutch with these must haves and you’ll be ready for a white wedding.

A Super Hydrating Lip Balm

The Jack Black hydrating lip balm ($7.50, beauty specialty stores) goes on clear and keeps our lips soft and smooth no matter how harsh the cold gets. If you’d like a little more color though, the Maybelline Baby Lips lip balms ($3-$4, drugstores) are absolutely fabulous. Remind the bride to swipe some on before she goes to sleep so she wakes up with beautiful soft, hydrated lips. Those deep berry colors are beautiful this time of year, but they will look crispy if your lips are chapped and cracking.

Spray Primer

We’re longtime fans of MAC’s Fix + spray ($21, MAC counters) for hydrating our skin in any situation. The last think you want your bride to be worried about is her skin being too dry, damaged, or dull due to the weather. Spray primers are naturally hydrating and go on super light. Creams can feel heavy this time of year when your skin may be more sensitive. Urban Decay also has a fantastic primer spray ($33, beauty specialty stores) infused with vitamins.

Spare Memory Cards

Do you always delete your old vacation pictures right after you upload them? It’s okay, that’s why we plan ahead. People may have snapped more shots than they realized over the summer, fall, and holidays and filled up their cameras. You need to make sure that everyone still has space for the perfect picture, so it’s handy to bring a spare memory card. Grab one of the freebies you picked up during Black Friday and stick it in your purse-just in case.

Body Balm

Dry hand and elbows? No thank you. Pack a travel sized lotion in your clutch just in case your bride starts to get dry. Philosophy’s lotions work wonders, but the smaller sizes are harder to come by. For something compact and super hydrating, we like Burt’s Bees Res-Q Ointment ($6, drugstores). It’s small but extremely powerful. One small pot of this stuff will last you forever- or at the very least, through the winter wedding season.

Emergen-C

We swear by it. Seriously. Replace one cup of your morning coffee with a glass of Emergen-C ($10-$11, drugstores) and your immune system will thank you. If you don’t love the flavor, pair it with lemonade or a juice. A personal favorite is the raspberry Emergen-C pack with a half glass of organic lemonade. Taking your vitamins is crucial this time of year, and by super-boosting your Vitamin C intake you’re sure to get through the season without so much as a sniffle. Keep a few extras on handy in case any of your fellow bridesmaids start to get sneeze-y.

Being maid of honor is no easy task. You’re going to be juggling tons of tasks, keeping track of the whole event, and doing it all in heels. After all, the blushing bride needs her right hand lady to keep her glowing! The wedding day is going to be a busy one, so it pays to be prepared. Keeping a survival stash in your bridal bag could save your skin, and maybe even a wedding photo or two.

Mints

These seriously have the potential to save the day. The bride is about to have the most public, photographed, and remembered kiss of her life, so her breath situation is high priority. Altoids come in little tins, so they won’t explode in your purse. Mentos are incredibly refreshing and give the chewy-ness of gum without the unattractive smacking noises.

Lighters

Lighters are a tool, not just something you’ll need if the bride needs to sneak a cigarette. If you catch any frayed strings or anything, a quick pass over with a lighter can typically fix that. Candles go out? No worries, the maid of honor is here to save the day. If the groom and groomsmen are doing cigars to celebrate, you become their go-to girl. You get bonus points for getting one that works with your outfit, or even painting one to match your outfit.

Makeup Removing Q-Tips

Even if you’re not maid of honor, these lil guys are a lifesaver. You crack them at one end, and it releases makeup remover to the tips. These are perfect for touch ups, smudges, smears, and anything else you can think of. They are a little hard to find, but I love the Almay oil-free makeup eraser sticks ($5-$6 for a box of 24, drugstores). A wedding is a beautiful and emotional day, so the maid of honor needs to be prepared for any potential makeup smearing.

Rollerball Perfume

It’s a good idea to have a rollerball in your purse ready to dab on wrists just in case. If your bride has a hair stylist worrying about hair and a makeup artist worrying about makeup, perfume can go overlooked. Stash her favorite scent in your purse just in case. I love Daisy by Marc Jacobs ($22, Sephora & department stores) because it’s light, fresh, and romantic.

Blister Block

Yes, it works. Rub this miracle stick ($4-$5, drugstores and pharmacies) on your heels and dance the night away without worrying about blisters. If the bride isn’t usually in heels, this will save her life. Keep it on hand even if the bride is a stiletto queen- one of your fellow bridesmaids may need a little heel help.

Floss

Not to sound like your dentist (or your mother!) but flossing is important. No one wants to look back on wedding photos and be haunted by food in your teeth. Toothpicks may crack and break in your purse, and you can find minty floss that will leave your mouth feeling extra clean. Plus, it looks a little more chic in your purse than tons of toothpicks.

Midol

Come on ladies, you know why you need to keep a few of these stashed. I like the ones that come in the tabs, not the bottle. Keeping a few tabs in your purse, or even your wallet is much more discreet than toting around a rattly bottle. You never know when cramps or a headache may strike, so it’s great to have a few handy.

For Outdoor Weddings: Nasal Spray

Blushing beauties, you get one bonus tip for all my maids of honor sweating it out under the sun. If you’re heading to a wedding outside, in a field, or generally around pollen, it can be for the better to bring nasal spray. You may look a little dorky for a second, but it’s better than constantly blowing your nose or struggling with your allergies.